ARCA celebrates 50 years at Daytona

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2013, file photo, a pack of cars drives past the start/finish line moments before a wreck on the backstretch during NASCAR auto race testing at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. There's a buzz about NASCAR and the season-opening Daytona 500 that has nothing to do with an exploding jet dryer or a well-timed tweet. NASCAR's new Gen-6 race car makes its long-awaited debut and the success of the 2013 season could depend heavily on its performance. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
— AP

FILE - In this Jan. 11, 2013, file photo, a pack of cars drives past the start/finish line moments before a wreck on the backstretch during NASCAR auto race testing at Daytona International Speedway in Daytona Beach, Fla. There's a buzz about NASCAR and the season-opening Daytona 500 that has nothing to do with an exploding jet dryer or a well-timed tweet. NASCAR's new Gen-6 race car makes its long-awaited debut and the success of the 2013 season could depend heavily on its performance. (AP Photo/John Raoux, File)
/ AP

Duno was a regular in the IndyCar series and raced in the same Indianapolis 500 as Danica Patrick. Patrick made a splash this month when she took her love life public and is set to run a full-time Sprint Cup season. Duno had no desire to compare her career path with Patrick.

"Oh, no, I have 10 years in racing and I have more wins than her," she said.

Hylton, a 78-year-old driver from Inman, S.C., announced Thursday that this will be his final season behind the wheel.

"I'm 78 and the time has come," said Hylton, who made his first start at Daytona International Speedway in 1966.

"James was here when Ben Hur raced," Kimmel said, laughing. "It was before the ocean came about. The earth was still together. All the land was still one piece."

Kimmel said he heard Gerhart say he might not have the car to win. In a garage where the personalities are looser than in Cup, Gerhart may have just been trying to lull his fellow drivers into a false sense of security.